While all
the Marvel films are very much of the same brand and have certain similarities
that echo through the franchise, part of the reason I think the MCU has been
able to maintain its success for so long is because its films play around with
assorted genres. There are exceptions –
the Iron Man and Avengers films are pretty standard, if well-made, superhero movies
– but throwing in different genre conventions puts a new spin on the typical
comic-book film.
Thor
Thor isn’t the best of the Phase One films, but I
really enjoyed it from the first time I saw it, and much of that is down to how
different it is. I love the
fantasy-in-space Asgard setting and the gorgeous visuals that go along with it,
as well as the Shakespearean-tragedy feel of all that goes down between Thor,
Loki, and Odin. Throw in a little
fish-out-of-water comedy when Thor gets to Earth, and you wind up with a pretty
ambitious film that, while not always cohesive, is always interesting.
Captain
America: The Winter Soldier
Even
though The Winter Soldier clearly
takes place in the 21st century (unlike its predecessor, which was a
legit superhero period piece,) the film still feels like a throwback, with
beats and style that hearken back to Cold War-era political/spy thrillers. True, Steve skipped over the Cold War while
he was on ice, but the Winter Soldier didn’t, and the Russia connection, mixed
in with all the crazy spy shenanigans and secret agents, makes it a perfect
fit.
Guardians
of the Galaxy
A little
bit space western, a little bit space opera – it’s all good. Guardians
of the Galaxy is Marvel Does Star
Wars by Way of Firefly, and I
love the crap out of it. Definitely the
film (and subsequent sequel) that’s the furthest outside the typical Marvel
oeuvre. When these characters are
brought into the wider fold with Infinity
Wars, I’m curious to see how they mesh with the more grounded flagship
characters (even the Thor movies don’t
have the feel of this one, and it’s the least earthbound of the main franchises.)
Ant-Man
If you’d
asked me what I needed from Marvel, “superpowered heist comedy” would not have
been the first thing to spring to mind, but boy, does it work. I love the Ocean’s Eleven-esque caper pulled off in miniature; the powers that
come with Scott’s suit make it a unique enough film, but the genre play just
adds flavor.
Jessica
Jones
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